Mandevilla plant named ‘Vivian’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Vivian’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounding plant habit; strong stems; early and freely flowering habit; and large red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘VIVIAN’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Mandevilla Plant Named ‘Sophia’

Applicant: Graham Noel Brown

Filed: Concurrently with this application (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/927,775)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Vivian’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new shrub-type Mandevilla plants with strong stems and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Australia in December, 2003, of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number X02.5, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunmandecrim’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia in November, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, since December, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in cultural practices and environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Vivian’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Vivian’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Strong stems.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more upright than and not as         vining as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Sunmandecrim’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of         ‘Sunmandecrim’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have thicker stems than plants         of ‘Sunmandecrim’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunmandecrim’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’ have crimson         red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sophia’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently with this application. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Sophia’ in flower color as plants of ‘Sophia’ have bright crimson red-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Mandevilla are taller and have longer internodes than plants of ‘Sophia’.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Fisrix Pinka’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,644. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Fisrix Pinka’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Fisrix Pinka’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have lighter-colored flowers         than ‘Fisrix Pinka’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Vivian’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Vivian’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in one-gallon containers during the summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. under commercial production cultural practices. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 29.4° C., night temperatures ranged from 15.6° C. to 21.1° C. and light levels ranged from 5,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched four times and were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Vivian’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number X02.5, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunmandecrim’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one month.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, thick; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounding plant             habit, slightly vining; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 46 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about three primary lateral branches             per plant; primary laterals with secondary laterals;             pinching enhances lateral branch development. Length: About             30 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; woody with             development. Color, young: Close to 146D. Color, woody:             Close to 199A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Brighter green than             137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to             146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in             terminal and axillary clusters; flowers face upright or             outwardly; freely flowering habit, about three to four             flowers per cluster and about twelve open flowers and flower             buds develop per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously             year-round in the greenhouse and outdoors in Southern             California.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Funnelform with five-parted fused             corolla; flowers roughly star-shaped. Diameter: About             8.3 cm. Depth (length): About 7.8 cm. Throat diameter: About             1.6 cm. Tube length: About 6.5 cm. Tube diameter, at the             base: About 5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Towards the apex, close to             71D; mid-section, close to 73C to 73D; towards the base,             close to 145D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five             petals, fused into flared trumpet; petals imbricate with             reflexed apices. Petal lobe length: About 3.7 cm. Petal lobe             width: About 3.2 cm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly ovate,             asymmetrical. Petal apex: Acute, reflexing. Petal margin:             Entire, slightly sinuate. Petal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal lobe,             when opening, upper surface: Close to 67B. Petal lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to 64D. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 67B to 67C; color becoming             closer to 68B with development; venation, close to 67B.             Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 64D;             venation, close to 64D. Throat: Close to 17C; venation,             close to 17C. Tube: Close to 75C; venation, close to 157A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Five per flower fused in a             single whorl. Calyx length: About 1 cm. Calyx diameter:             About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, inner surface: Close to 145D. Color, outer surface:             Close to 145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Aspect: About 45° from stem axis. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.1 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Aspect: About 45° from peduncle axis. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About             9 mm. Anther color: Close to 16D. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 19D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.4 cm. Stigma shape:             Rounded; five-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style             length: About 1.6 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Ovary             color: Close to 146C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Mandevilla. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Vivian’ as illustrated and described. 